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Sunbutter Chocolate Chip Cookies (Healthy Snacks for Kids)

I was an exceptionally picky eater as a child. It’s hard to imagine now, but I just didn’t really like food much as a kid, and it was a huge battle of the wills between me and my mother to get me to eat. I often sat at the dinner table long after everyone else had finished, not being allowed to get up until I’d eaten more of my meal. Since I was a tiny child as it was, it worried my mum to see me turn up my nose at all this food. I grew out of it, of course, and as a parent myself now, I know firsthand the worry she faced having such a picky eater. My older two are pretty good eaters and for a while there, I thought I’d dodged a bullet. Then my third child came along(unexpectedly)and doing her best to make me grey before my time. Given that she, too, is a tiny child, I want to feed her and fatten her up, but she does her best to thwart my efforts.

One thing I can guarantee she will eat, any time of day or night, is peanut butter. To see her down half a peanut butter sandwich always feels like a small victory. But she started daycare this fall, and like many schools in the area, this one is nut-free. So peanut butter sandwiches are OUT for school lunch. On the advice of some other parents, I purchased a jar of Sunbutter, hoping to sneak this one past her. I tasted it myself and I found it rather intense, but like something I could get used to. So I made her a test sandwich with some Sunbutter and some jam and crossed my fingers. She took one bite and pushed the plate away. And my other two kids didn’t seem too enthusiastic either. They were all too used to the sweet/salty taste of peanut butter to be fooled by a sunflower seed imitation.

I stared at the jar of Sunbutter in dismay. What the heck was I going to do with a barely-touched jar of the stuff, which didn’t come cheap, if I couldn’t get my kids to eat it in sandwiches? Inspiration struck, as it often does, when I was poking around Foodgawker and saw a recipe for healthy, whole wheat Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies from The Faux Martha. She had, in turn, adapted the recipe from 101 Cookbooks. I thought that perhaps I could get my kids used to the distinct taste of Sunbutter if they first tried in a sweet cookie.

I knew from the start that I wasn’t going to follow the recipe as written at all. First, I was going to half the recipe, because if it didn’t work out, I didn’t want a whole lot of inedible cookies floating around. I also wanted these to be a school-friendly snack, so I added an egg to keep it from being too crumbly. I love crumbly cookies, but they don’t survive the lunchbox very well. I decided to use honey in place of the maple syrup, but I wanted to cut back on that too (honey, after all, is still a form of sugar), so I subbed in some Stevia in the Raw. And I just couldn’t stomach the idea of olive oil, so I went with melted coconut oil.

The Results: Victory! A healthy cookie that all three of my kids loved. This is no small feat, let me tell you. I tried a bit, and I have to say, if no one told me, I wouldn’t know they weren’t peanut butter cookies. They look the same, certainly, and had great flavour that was reminiscent of peanut butter, but that had it’s own sort of sunflower thing going on. I did notice that after the first two days, they became a bit drier, although they still tasted great. I suspect this is a result of the low sugar content, since sugar attracts moisture. So I would keep the batches no bigger than what I have in the recipe, unless you are sure they will get eaten within two days.

Want to hear something funny, though? Turns out my little one WILL eat Sunbutter sandwiches at school. I packed one in her lunch the first day and they told me she ate it right up. I guess when push comes to shove and that’s all you’re getting for lunch, you eat it. Or when your mother isn’t hovering over you, hoping you will eat something!

Preheat oven to 350F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat.

In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking soda and salt.

In a large bowl, beat the Sunbutter, honey and Stevia in the Raw* until smooth. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until combined. Stir in the flour mixture and then add the coconut oil and beat or stir until thoroughly combined. Stir in the chocolate chips.

Form by hand into 1-inch diameter balls, then flatten by pressing down with palm of hand. Use a fork to create a hatched pattern. Bake 8 to 11 minutes, or until slightly puffed and lightly browned.

Let cool on pan for a few minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Makes 18 cookies.

*Stevia in the Raw is a stevia product that measures cup for cup like sugar. If you are using powdered or liquid stevia, you would use significantly less (more like 1/8 tsp). Sweeten to taste.

Nutritional Disclaimer

Please note that I am not a medical or nutritional professional. I am simply recounting and sharing my own experiences on this blog. Nothing I express here should be taken as medical advice and you should consult with your doctor before starting any diet or exercise program.
I provide nutritional information for my recipes simply as a courtesy to my readers. It is calculated using MacGourmet software and I remove erythritol from the final carb count and net carb count, as it does not affect my own blood glucose levels. I do my best to be as accurate as possible but you should independently calculate nutritional information on your own before relying on them.
I expressly disclaim any and all liability of any kind with respect to any act or omission wholly or in part in reliance on anything contained in this website.

Love the new blog look! These sound great and perfect for this time of year (somehow cookies never sound good to me when it's hot). I'm sure your kids must love them and you are certainly elevating the fate of your untouched Sunbutter! Great invention (as always)! Toni

I need to give sunbutter a try for my son since his "school" is peanut-free. I think these cookies might be a nice treat for his lunch. These cookies look so delicious and the fact that they are kid friendly is a big plus. Great recipe.

I've been away for a while, so let me first compliment you on your new blog design — it's great 🙂Now about your cookies: it's amazing how you've managed to completely transform the recipe + make your kids love cookies made out of an ingredient they didn't enjoy. Proves it must be really tasty!

I was a tiny, picky, slow eater as a child too. If I had kids, I'm sure I'd be getting pay-back, big time!!!These look like you could fool anybody with them. I'm now completely craving peanut butter cookies!

Hi Carolyn! I'm behind in reading again, but when I scrolled down, there are I found so many delicious sweets. I wish I was your child! Seriously… everyday heaven. I come home from school so happily thinking what I can eat for snack time… I'm so busy just preparing everyday dinner and I'm impressed that you manage to make delicious sweets on top of all the chores you have to do. I'm off to read other posts I missed now.

sunbutter also works perfectly and predictably in flourless cookies, in the style of flourless peanut butter cookies!!! if you have more sunbutter to get rid of and want a low carb/grain free version, follow this recipe and sub the sunbutter in place of peanut butter!

These look delicious! So funny to see this post…I started making my 2 year old sunbutter sandwiches when we ran out of PB. I wasn't sure if she would eat them, but she didn't even seem to notice! Actually, she's been requesting more PB sandwiches than usual come to think of it! These cookies might be one of our afternoon activities this week. Thanks for sharing!

Great idea! I was a super picky eater too. The list of things I wouldn't eat was quite extensive, but I'm sure if my mom had thought to sneak k=healthy foods into cookies I would have turned around sooner.

How fantastic! I love the background to these (and your patience and perseverence in finding something to cater to your youngest 🙂 ) and the short ingredients list. I'm not a big fan of sunflower seed butter alone, but I think I'd love it in this form.

You're a smart cookie 😉 Acceptance comes much easier in the shape of a cookie and studded with chocolate chips! And, it's always interesting to hear what your kids will eat when they're at school or friends' houses.

You're such a creative mom! If kids don't eat something as it is, change its form and try again. Nice method! I have no idea about sunbutter as we don't have it here, but I can imagine how these cookies are yummy with your additions.

I was a picky kid, my oldest son was picky, and his daughter is a picky eater,so I know a lot of about that. My oldest son is a grown adult know, but he lived on peanut butter sandwiches for lunch. thank goodness peanut allergies weren't as prevalent as they are now, or I would be looking for theSsunbutter to make these wonderful cookies.

These cookies look delicious! I'm a sucker for p.b., you know, but I have been thinking about looking into buying nut butters. (Actually, I just want one that is low-carb!) But I've never heard of sunbutter. Interesting.

When they're hungry, kids will eat anything! LOL. I've never heard of Sunbutter spread myself, but I think it's brilliant that you've managed to sneak it into these delectable cookies! You should be Mom of the Year just for that.

Our school started using Sunbutter in place of peanut butter a few years back and I have to say that most kids really didn't like it. I did try it once, and as a huge PB fan, it just wasn't right. But I can just imagine how good it was in the cookie! Love the use of the coconut oil too, I'm really glad I discovered that this year.As for the picky eaters.. I was one and both of my kids were too. I have always wondered if it was me that made them picky or if they were just born that way? My teenage son has really grown out of it and my daughter is getting better, but they are still fairly limited in preferences. I do remember the PB sandwich victory though!!

Just made these for my kids, and made them gluten free by subbing Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free All-Purpose Flour for the WW flour. Also added 1/2 tsp xantham gum. And subbed 70% dark chocolate chips b/c that’s what I had. The dough was SO thick I was worried. But My 3 kids are each scarfing down their second cookie, which I take as a sign of approval! They look a smidge dry to me, so we’ll see how they store. I’ll stick them in the freezer and pop them into lunches this week. I wonder if there is anything I could do to make them slightly more moist? Thanks for the nice little afternoon treat for my kids!!

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Looking for the best low carb recipes? You've come to the right place! I'm Carolyn, a major carnivore and an unrepentant sweet tooth. Here you will find all you need to enjoy the low carb keto lifestyle to the fullest! Read more

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